women's rights!!?
I happened to read this one article from BBC News the other day. It was on a statement made by Ms. Marina Mahathir, on the recent Islamic Family Law Act. I am no expert in Sharia Law, and I also know not very much of it, nor do I have the intention to take up the subject during my law study. Hence, I am here not to give my thought on that particular law, but instead, to comment on the statement made by her.
In that article, she outspokenly said that Muslim women in Malaysia are regressing, and are continued to be oppressed by the patriacrchal society. The current Islamic Family Law Act, she argued, will only continue to recognize men's domination in the society, and hence a step backwards for the Muslim women's rights in Malaysia.
For the record, Ms Marina Mahathir is one of the prominent members of Sisters In Islam (SIS), which is the leading Muslim Women's rights group in Malaysia.
Funny thing though, because she said one thing, but then she acted in another way. She said that current legal system in Malaysia does not provide adequate protections to women's rights. But he so called liberating Muslim women's group did nothing much to change it, well at least not in this one issue.
Do you still remember the case of Habsah Jaafar, a Muslim woman who had to quit her job as a hotel manager when she refused the order from the Hotel's administration of not allowing her to wear her veil when she is working there? At one time, this issue attracted enough attention from the public, and even from the cabinet Ministers.
But where was Sisters In Islam during this time? Where was Marina Mahathir? Where did the so called women's rights proctectors hid to when this issue arose not long ago? In this case, Habsah Jaafar a Muslim woman who insisted of practising her religion, was being discriminated by her former employee. I thought Sisters In Islam would be the first one to come forward and to give some moral support, but apparently they have been keeping in silence, even until now.
So what is Sisters In Islam actually? Do they really intend to protect the rights of Muslim women in Malaysia? You judge.
"As non-Muslim women catch up with women in the rest of the world, Muslim women here are only going backwards," Ms Mahathir said in the article. Yeah sure, i couldn't agree more with her. Muslim women in our country are so going backwards, that is why we have women MPs in the Parliament, Huge number of women's participation in employment, large enrolment of women into local universities and so forth. And ouh, we also have our own the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs in Malaysia, that is why we are so taking a step backwards huh?
Come on Sisters In Islam, Muslim women in Malaysia enjoy more rights that any other women in other Islamic world. The government is trying to satisfy this women's rights group, but apparently it can never be enough for them. All they can do is to complain whenever the authority comes out with a piece of legislation which the believey as not to be "liberal" enough for the women.
Yeah, women, they are very hard to be satisfied. Heh. That is why men should quit trying to satisfy them.
Source;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4795808.stm
http://syazwan.blogspot.com/2006/02/layanan-kelas-kedua-terhadap-perempuan.html
http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/SIS%20Malay%20web2/m_wn_research.htm
http://www.ffpam.org.my/conn03.asp
In that article, she outspokenly said that Muslim women in Malaysia are regressing, and are continued to be oppressed by the patriacrchal society. The current Islamic Family Law Act, she argued, will only continue to recognize men's domination in the society, and hence a step backwards for the Muslim women's rights in Malaysia.
For the record, Ms Marina Mahathir is one of the prominent members of Sisters In Islam (SIS), which is the leading Muslim Women's rights group in Malaysia.
Funny thing though, because she said one thing, but then she acted in another way. She said that current legal system in Malaysia does not provide adequate protections to women's rights. But he so called liberating Muslim women's group did nothing much to change it, well at least not in this one issue.
Do you still remember the case of Habsah Jaafar, a Muslim woman who had to quit her job as a hotel manager when she refused the order from the Hotel's administration of not allowing her to wear her veil when she is working there? At one time, this issue attracted enough attention from the public, and even from the cabinet Ministers.
But where was Sisters In Islam during this time? Where was Marina Mahathir? Where did the so called women's rights proctectors hid to when this issue arose not long ago? In this case, Habsah Jaafar a Muslim woman who insisted of practising her religion, was being discriminated by her former employee. I thought Sisters In Islam would be the first one to come forward and to give some moral support, but apparently they have been keeping in silence, even until now.
So what is Sisters In Islam actually? Do they really intend to protect the rights of Muslim women in Malaysia? You judge.
"As non-Muslim women catch up with women in the rest of the world, Muslim women here are only going backwards," Ms Mahathir said in the article. Yeah sure, i couldn't agree more with her. Muslim women in our country are so going backwards, that is why we have women MPs in the Parliament, Huge number of women's participation in employment, large enrolment of women into local universities and so forth. And ouh, we also have our own the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs in Malaysia, that is why we are so taking a step backwards huh?
Come on Sisters In Islam, Muslim women in Malaysia enjoy more rights that any other women in other Islamic world. The government is trying to satisfy this women's rights group, but apparently it can never be enough for them. All they can do is to complain whenever the authority comes out with a piece of legislation which the believey as not to be "liberal" enough for the women.
Yeah, women, they are very hard to be satisfied. Heh. That is why men should quit trying to satisfy them.
Source;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4795808.stm
http://syazwan.blogspot.com/2006/02/layanan-kelas-kedua-terhadap-perempuan.html
http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/SIS%20Malay%20web2/m_wn_research.htm
http://www.ffpam.org.my/conn03.asp
posted by faisal at 8:16 AM
10 Comments:
not a law expert, not yet at least
just wanna voice out my humble opinion on things which are going on now.
well...surely can't ms. mahathir voices out her opinion? I mean, we do live in a free country don't we? as for SIS, i don't think you can blame ms.mahatir since she is not the leader of SIS.
Did you realize that the last two paragraphs of her article which dircetly criticized the government was taken of by The Star? huh.
What is that? is it saying, it is ok to came out with a very controversial statement but cannot criticize the goverment?
Loved this article. Well said, dear. Women are also hard to satisfy, very true indeed. God didn't create the 9 lust for women for nothing.
No no, this has nothing to do with the government
more to SIS itself
when a woman was discriminated when she chosed to wear a veil, SIS just kept their mouth shut, but when one muslim woman was caught dressing inappropriately at local club in KL, SIS came forward to back up this girl!
What the heck? i hope you already knew about this case by the way.
Maybe the word Islam should be stripped off from the name of the organisation. It is one feminist group in Malaysia for sure, a prominent one, but not an Islamic one.
Yeah, I do agree with u adam, Ms. Mahathir is entitled to voice out her opinion. But why only on certain things? But not all that those concern Muslim women in Malaysia?
She, and her fellow SIS came forward with their monogamy campaign, criticising the current Sharia Law and so forth, but where were they when this one muslim woman was discriminated?
OK. Points taken. For the record, I am not a big fan of SIS. In fact, I despise SIS. Haha. I have discussed about SIS with some people few months ago. About their lack of responsibility in fighting for women's rights in Malaysia.
Actually I was about to write something on it but I decided not to because I don't want to face with libel charges from SIS. Haha.
I suggest that you do the same :P
If SIS no longer want to be critised, maybe they should opt to be more impartial in carrying out their task of defending the so called women's rights.
and Adam, you have not changed a lot,still afraid of what others might think of you. :P
Anyway, I am not a sexist,at least not the hardliner. My point is simple, I demand SiS to prove that they really protect the rights of Muslim women in Malaysia, not putting them at jeopardy.
Cheers!
SIS seem like protacting their own point of views, WITHOUT the guidelines from the hadiths and al-quran.
"SIS-is a group of Muslim professional women committed to promoting the rights of women within the framework of Islam."
Professional doesnt fits with emotional dealing with this issue, rite SIS?
They proclaimed themselves PROFFESIONALIST,but are they?
*SIS, are you sure with that
:)
anonymous,
i do agree with you
they are indeed feminist, fighting for women's rights in Malaysia, but as what I mentioned earlier, the word Islam should be stripped off from their organisation.
They are just another one plain feminist group. Nothing extra ordinary.
Btw, I am working on an essay on feminism, hence I shall post more on this topic as soon as I start doing my research.
Have a nice weekend everyone
They should change their name.
Sisters in Feminism.SIF.
haha .
:)
Brothers in Islam
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